North Vietnam
Tours in a Private Vehicle with Chauffeur and Guide
Between Tuan Giao and Dien Bien Phu
The Fabulous Tour of the Northwest:
(8 days/7 nights)
Ha Noi - Mai Chau - Son La - Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau - Phong Tho -
Sapa - Ha Noi
This grand tour of the Northwest is another possible magnificent tour of the High Mountains of North Vietnam, on mountain roads and high passes offering breathtaking panoramas among all the imaginable minorities: White and Black Thais, Black H’mongs, Dao, Lolos, etc. The road between Tuan Giao and Dien Bien Phu and the one of the pass between Tam Duong and Sapa are considered – rightly so - as among the most spectucular in the country.
All the rates include a private car, a guide, entrance fees, the boat ride if any, lunch, taxes and service. They do not include your drinks and other personal expenses.
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Day 1: HANOI – HOA BINH - MAI CHAU (POM COONG) (lunch, dinner)
Morning departure to Hoa Binh. Stops on the road to admire the magnificent panorama, first on top of the pass, then on the descent overlooking the superb valley of Mai Chau. Arrival in the White Thai village of Pom Coong, where you settle for the night in a delightful family’s traditional stilted house.
After lunch in your family house, you spend the afternoon strolling or biking through the villages and the rice fields. Return to Pom Coong for diner and one night at your Thai home. |
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Son La Prison |
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Day 2: MAI CHAU - MOC CHAU – SON LA (3 meals)
We take the road to Son La and climb several passes separated by the Plateau of Moc Chau, a large milk and milk product region. Lunch en route and arrival in Son La, where we visit the French Prison (excellent museum of the Colonial period, Archeology, and local minorities). Diner and one night in a Son La hotel |
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Day 3: SONLA – DIEN BIEN PHU (3 meals)
We take the road to Dien Bien Phu, which, together with the road Ha Giang-Dong Van/Meo Vac and the one to the Ban Gioc Waterfalls, is the most breathtaking in Vietnam. Before Dien Bien, we take a small mountain road - another of our little secrets – leading to the charming Thai village of Muong Phong, General Giap headquarters during the battle, that you visit. We then continue the small road up to Dien Bien, where we have diner and spend one night at the new Muong Tan hotel. |
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Day 4: DIEN BIEN PHU – LAI CHAU (MUANG SAY) (3 meals)
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In the morning, visit of the battle site : the museum, the last stronghold hill, Eliane 2 trenches, the French stele, General de Castries’ bunker, etc.
Lunch in Dien Bien and we then take the magnificent road going through the valley of Lai Chau (partly submerged by a dam lake).
Diner and night at the Lanh Anh Hotel, rebuilt above the lake water level. |
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Day 5: LAI CHAU (MUANG SAY) - PHONG TO - SAPA (3 meals)
We drive northwards, to the village of Phong To, former “capital” of the local Thai king Déo Van Anh. We then cross the large plain of Tam Duong, and climb the breathtaking Tram Lo Pass, 23 km of hairpin turns offering magnificent panoramas magnifiques of the whole region.
Arrival in Sapa mid-afternoon, registration at your hotel, and free time to explore Sapa and its 2 markets. Delicious diner of local specialties and night in Sapa at the charming Friendly Hotel (room with balcony overlooking the valley and the Fan Si Pan).
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Day 6: TREKKING SAPA–TA PHIN (1 night in a minority homestay) (3 meals)
Meeting with your local guide in front of a good breakfast. Departure around 9:00, to discover the rich Dao and h’mong culture. We walk up and down through terrace rice fields and small ethnic village, towards the Valley of Ma Tra. We arrive at the dao homestay local house in the dao village of Ta Phin, on time for lunch. Relaxed stroll around the village after lunch. Diner and night at the dao homestay. |
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Day 7: TREKKING TA PHIN – XA XENG – GIANG TA CHAI - SAPA (3 meals)
After breakfast, departure for the village de Xa Xeng. We climb a pass leading to the Valley of Muong Hoa and arrive at the village of Hau Thao, offering magnificent panoramic views of the valley, the most beautiful around Sapa. Picnic lunch in the rice fields, followed by more walking to discover the local life. Return to Sapa by car. End of the afternoon free to visit the two markets of Sapa and do some shopping. Diner and night in Sapa.
Day 8: SAPA-HANOI (breakfast, lunch)
We go down another pass with stunning views to the frontier town of Lao Cai, from which we take the road back to Ha Noi.
Rates per person:
1 pers. |
2 pers. |
3 pers. |
4 pers. |
5 pers |
Sgle Supplt |
$1830 |
$1070 |
$860 |
$774 |
$705 |
$100 |
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Paradise Gate (Road Ha Giang - Dong Van)
The Most Fabulous Tour of the Northeast:
(8 Days/7 Nights)
(Ha Noi – Ha Giang – Dong Van – Meo Vac – Cao Bang –
Ban Gioc Waterfalls
- Babe Lake – Ha Noi)
To the splendors described above, we add one more: the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfalls, just at the Chinese border north of Cao Bang.
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Ha Giang Resort & Spa |
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Day 1: HA NOI - HA GIANG (lunch, dinner) 8:00 departure to Road No. 2 Hanoi-Viet Tri-Tuyen Quang-Ha Giang.
Excellent lunch among gardens in Tan Quang; arrival in Ha Giang around 18:00.
We go to a nearby Thai village, where we have diner and spend the night in a family stilted house. |
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Day 2: HA GIANG – DONG VAN (3 meals)
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After purchasing the mandatory permit at the Immigration Office, we take the first spectacular road, which leads to Dong Van, a series of long passes and deep valleys. Lunch in the small mountain town of Tam Son.
We then cross a landscape of pine forest and arrive at the astonishing King of the H'mong's Palace, a fortress built by a local chief allied with the French against the Vietminh, Vuong Chin Duc, and evacuated in 1950 (his descendants now live in France and Canada). Arrival in Dong Van around 18:00. Diner in a local restaurant and hotel night. |
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Day 3: DONG VAN – COL DE MA PI LENG - MEO VAC – BAO LAC (3 meals)
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An absolutely unforgettable day! It starts with the visit of the market of Dong Van, where the locals shop before returning to their eagle nest. We then climb a pass up to the French Fortress of Pu Lo, built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945, from which we enjoy a spectacular view of the entire region.
We then drive back to the site of the H'mong Palace and up north to Lung Cu, the most septentrional village in Vietnam. Back in Dong Van for lunch and then, take the most astonishing road in Vietnam, which climbs on 15 km up to the top of the Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of lime peaks, "stone forests", and canyons unique in the world. We then go down into the valley of Meo Vac, where we have lunch. We then continue snaking through the mountains, cross the river, and arrive in the village of Bao Lac, where we have diner and spend the night. |
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The Market of Dong Van |
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Day 4: BAO LAC – CAO BANG- QUANG UYEN (3 meals)
A very scenic road snaking from valley to valley, offering superb panoramas. In Thin Tuc, on top of a pass, you will see one the oldest tin mines in the world. You then descent to Cao Bang, nestled between mountains and the Ré Dao River, where we have lunch.
We then climb the Ma Phuc Pass, with its sumptuous panoramas, to arrive in the small town of Quang Uyen, where you have diner and sleep in a Thai stilted family house. |
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Day 5: BANG GIOC WATERFALLS AND NGUOM NGAO GROTTO (3 meals)
One of the most scenic roads in Vietnam arrives at the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfalls, the closest you can come from the Chinese border: it passes through the middle of the falls and the river.
Before arriving to the waterfalls, we visit one of the most spectacular grotto in Vietnam, Nguom Ngao Grotto, which counts several kilometers of superbly-lit galleries and an huge 100-m room. We then arrive in the extraordinary site of the waterfalls, where we have lunch. Return to Cao Bang for diner and one night. |
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Ban Gioc Waterfalls |
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On the road to Cho Ra |
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Day 6: CAO BANG - BABE LAKE (3 meals)
Other magnificent roads through the mountains, to arrive at the village of Cho Ra. From there, a 17-km descent takes you down to the lake and the White Thai village of Pac Ngoi, the White Thai village where you are welcomed by Mr. Duy Tho amazingly friendly Thai family in their traditional stilted house. If it's hot, do like the local kids, just jump in the river! Superb diner (Mrs Duy Tho is a true Cordon bleu) on the river terrace. |
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Day 7: BABE LAKE (GROTTO AND WATERFALLS) (3 meals)
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The Nang River before Dau Dang |
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A treat! Breakfast on the river terrace, then short drive to the house owner's boat, who takes you through the entire length of the 3 connected lakes (Ba Be - "3 bays") and up the Nang River, to an astonishing site: Dong Phuong, an enormous tunnel 300-long that the river has dug through a lime mountain.
The boat then goes up river to the small village of Hua Tang. As simple and authentic as you have been dreaming of! Lunch in a local house alongside the river. |
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After lunch, a short walk through the jungle takes you to the very scenic Thac Dau Dang Waterfalls, a series of spectacular cascades between sheer rock walls. Return by boat for another delightful evening at your Thai house.
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Day 8: BABE LAKE - HA NOI (breakf, lunch)
Morning departure to take a mountain road going through the villages of Bang Lung and Cho Chu. Lunch and we reach the main road direction Thai Nguyen and Hanoi, where we arrive around 16:00. |
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Rates per person in US dollars:
1 pers. |
2 pers. |
3 pers. |
4 pers. |
5 pers. |
Sgle Supplt |
$1620 |
$940 |
$730 |
$644 |
$575 |
$45 |
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